# Accident 20010721016509A: Cessna 120, Troutdale, OR, July 21, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2001, 09:00 local time
- Place: Troutdale, OR
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.5204° N, 122.3500° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5204&lon=-122.3500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N90077, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90077-2002-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA01LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721016509A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JULY 21, 2001, APPROXIMATELY 0900 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 120, N90077, COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT SEVEN MILES EAST OF TROUTDALE, OREGON. THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT DEPARTED PORTLAND-HILLSBORO AIRPORT, HILLSBORO, OREGON ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS EN ROUT TO PENDLETON, OREGON. THE 14 CFR, PART 91 PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, WHICH THE PILOT INTENDED TO CONDUCT UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, INADVERTENTLY ENTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS JUST PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TREES.  NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.  THE ELT, WHICH WAS ACTIVATED BY THE IMPACT SEQUENCE, WAS TURNED OFF AT THE SCENE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS FLYING EAST THROUGH THE COLUMBIA GORGE WHEN HE BECAME DISTRACTED BY WHAT APPEARED TO BE A MALFUNCTIONING ATTITUDE INDICATOR.  WHILE LOOKING AT THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR, HE BECAME DISTRACTED, AND WHEN HE LOOKED UP AGAIN, THE AIRCRAFT HAD ENTERED THE CLOUDS.  THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT IT WAS LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS AFTER THE ENTERED THE CLOUDS THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED T HE TREES. (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED HIO AT APPROX 0800 AND HEADED EASTBOUND TO GO THROUGH THE COLUMBIA GORGE. APPROX 20-25 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT, ACFT WAS SOUTHEAST OF TROUTDALE AIRPORT AT 1500 FEET. PILOT NOTICED THAT THE CLOUD BASES APPEARED TO BE LOWER THAN FORECAST. HE GLANCED DOWN TO CHECK HIS ALTITUDE AND SAW THAT THE VENTURI DRIVEN ATTITUDE INDICATOR WAS TUMBLED. HE GOT MOMENTARILY FIXATED ON THE INOPERATIVE ATTITUDE INDICATOR FOR APPROX 1 MIN. WHEN HE LOOKED UP HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS. APPROX 3-5 SECONDS LATER HE HIT THE TREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA01LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA138), Jul 21, 2001: Cessna 120 (N90077), Troutdale, OR, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's inadvertent visual flight rules ( VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) during cruise flight. Factors include his attention being diverted to the indications…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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